The tough talking President of the Philippines, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte warned all illegal rice traders who would take advantage of the country's rice situation as he noted that if they do so, he will resort to emergency measures.

Pres. Rody Duterte was quoted as saying "Do not force me to resort to emergency measures," the President told the media after delivering his speech before he left for historic visits to Israel and Jordan.

Watch How Pres. Duterte Warned Rice Traders to Use Emergency Powers:

The former Mayor from Davao City stated taht if there was an artificial scheme going around, he would not hesitate to exercise the powers of the President and ask the military and police to raid warehouses, adding that these would be subject to just compensation.

Pres. Duterte said that he would not let Filipinos go hungry "I can do that," he said. "And if I said, you force me, I will." the President stated.

In the issue regarding the smuggled rice in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (ZAMBASULTA), Pres. Duterte favors giving it away or selling it at low prices to the public. Pres. Duterte does not agree with proposals to legalize rice already smuggled into the country, but he wuold be willing to distribute it for free or sell it at a low price to Filipinos.

"Those smuggled rice have not paid any taxes or tariff or whatever so, they are confiscated. (For) disposal of the government, and maybe I shall distribute it for free or go down to the last prices prevailing in the market," he said Sunday.

Duterte made it clear, however, that he was not for the legalization of the smuggled grain. Last January, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) seized around P125 million worth of smuggled rice in waters off Zamboanga Sibugay province. The President also reiterated on his speech that he was not in favor of the calls for Sec. Manny Piñol's resignation. He also noted that he saw no reason to remove the Agriculture Secretary from office.